A toddler’s development is most crucial during the first 3 years of life. Aside from being particular with food, rigorous play can also hinder growth. Thus, vitamins for children should be included in a toddler’s daily diet. When taken in proper doses, these vitamins will keep the child healthy so he can thrive in all aspects.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is one vitamin parents should give to children to retain growth and fitness. Retinol can often be lacking in the diet of toddlers especially when they are picky eaters. Taking adequate doses of vitamin A each day can:

• Improve Eyesight – the beta carotene serves as a strong antioxidant that helps prevent eye damage that can lead to blindness, prevents conjunctival xerosis (dryness of eyes) from happening and helps adjust the eyes’ night vision
• Promote Healthy Skin – produces fat-soluble vitamins that repairs and grows the front-line and outer parts of the skin
• Boost Immunity – develops lymphocytes that fights off bacteria and diseases from entering the immune system, prevents common ailments of children (viral infections, urinary tract infection, respiratory infection and measles)
• Enhance Cell Development - the antioxidants counteract free radicals from harming cells and tissues

Vitamin B

The B family is very important to toddlers since it helps – overcome fatigue, produce red blood cells, protect the body from cancer, keep the nervous system stable, promote healthy body functioning and proper metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins providing energy and stamina for children’s daily activities. Since it is water soluble, the body can easily absorb all the nutrients.

Vitamin C

Health experts have proven that vitamin C or ascorbic acid supplies a wide variety of health benefits. This supplement serves as the perfect substitute of fruits and vegetables in a toddler’s diet. Most tablets are chewable and taste like orange so toddlers enjoy eating them. It helps maintain a strong immune system, increases collagen production promoting healthy bones, cartilage, teeth, tissues and glowing skin and fights off stress. It is also useful in absorbing iron and calcium, stopping common health issues like anemia and colds and in treating asthma.

Vitamin D

Known as the sunshine vitamin (produced when the skin is exposed to UV-B rays of the sun), this vitamin is fat soluble and is considered the most natural. It gets stored in a toddler’s body fat during summer season where temperature is too hot and the excess is used during winter season. It is essential for bone formation, since it effectively absorbs calcium from the bone, the small intestines down to the blood stream. Vitamin D stabilizes blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease and it helps fight seasonal infections which toddlers are susceptible to.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a natural antioxidant. It serves as a toddler’s shield in averting free radicals; from chemicals, toxins, cigarette smoke and other pollutants which toddlers are exposed to every day. Apart from that, it is also very beneficial in the consumption of body fats, cell and DNA repair and other metabolic processes.

Magnesium

Low magnesium consumption is the main cause of ADHD and other hyperactive behaviour. This nutrient is essential for cell repair, heart and muscle relaxation and protein production which helps improve body function, preventing chronic diseases and reducing insulin resistance.

Zinc

Zinc is imperative to children’s physical development, for faster wound healing and in increasing their appetite. It is also necessary for fast metabolism, insulin storage and carbon dioxide transportation (for even breathing).